Toluene & Myelofibrosis

Toluene is an organic compound with the molecular formula C6H5CH3. According to the Mayo Clinic, toluene exposure has, in a few cases, been linked to a bone marrow disorder called myelofibrosis, although the evidence is not conclusive.

Features

• Myelofibrosis is a disorder caused by mutations in the stem cells in bone marrow; the damage to the stem cells' DNA leads to overproduction of white blood cells and an insufficient number of red blood cells. Anemia, fever, frequent infections and bone pain are common symptoms.

Identification

• Toluene is a chemical with a wide variety of uses in industry, primarily as a solvent. It is used in the manufacture of paints, paint thinners, fingernail polish and adhesives, and is also added to gasoline.

Effects

• Several cases of myelofibrosis have been reported in which the disease has been linked to toluene. There is often no single clear cause of the disease, however, and there is insufficient evidence at this point that toluene can cause myelofibrosis.

Considerations

• Toluene is often found in the presence of benzene, another organic compound classified as a carcinogen by the Environmental Protection Agency. There is some evidence to suggest that benzene exposure may increase the risk of myelofibrosis, so exposure to substances that contain both compounds may present an increased risk.

Significance

• There is as yet no definitive evidence to show that toluene causes myelofibrosis, although at high exposure levels it can have other damaging effects on health. The Occupational Health and Safety Administration requires employers to keep concentrations in workplace air at or below 200 parts per million.